Marie Donnelly Cushing

Marie Donnelly Cushing, a longtime resident of Annapolis, passed away peacefully on February 11th at the age of 98. She was at home, surrounded and cared for by her loving family. Marie was born on June 14, 1924 in St. Louis, MO to James L. and Marie (Hogan) Donnelly, the eldest of four children. She moved to Evanston, IL at an early age, where she grew up on Lake Michigan and attended Marywood High School. A gifted pianist, she received a music scholarship to attend Webster College near St. Louis. She left school to marry Vincent Cushing, her high school sweetheart, in 1945. They remained married for almost 73 years until his death in 2018. They had eight children whom they raised in Winnetka, IL, Kensington, MD, and Deerfield, IL, with a brief residence in Huntington, NY. Vince's business took them to Millbrae, CA from 1978 to 1985 before returning to Annapolis to live out the remainder of their years. Marie was first and foremost a mother and a wife. She was a living example of unconditional love, always putting others first. She taught love, commitment, and compassion by example. Her kindness touched those around her and truly made the world a better and a happier place. Marie was passionate about learning and education. In 1961, she and a group of parents founded St. Aidan's, Washington's first Montessori school. Marie resumed her college education, graduating from American University in 1967 with her eight children in attendance. She was a Head Start teacher in the early years of the program in the Washington, DC area, providing early education for disadvantaged children. In 1982 she earned her Master's Degree in Montessori Education from Notre Dame College of Belmont, CA, and then became the head primary teacher at a Montessori school in San Carlos. Marie was creative and loved the arts. She enjoyed attending the theatre, concerts, and the symphony. She is a past president of Annapolis's Friends of the Arts. She was involved in her neighborhood Bridge Club and Gourmet Club. She loved an adventure, anything that would create memories with family and friends. Many stories are shared of our hiking, camping, skiing, snow shoeing, and whitewater rafting trips. She was proud to say that she rafted 7 rivers! Marie was a person of faith. She raised her children in the Catholic Church. Undeterred by prohibitions against lay women serving in the Church, she was an agent of change and growth in her local parishes. In Kensington, she was instrumental in bringing folk music to Mass. Her pastor eventually invited her to be the first to share the "handshake of peace" because of her outspoken advocacy, counter to the pastor's own point of view. One of Marie's good friends tells of the day Marie had her family stand and leave the service, nearly an entire pew of people, during the pastor's reading of a Church position counter to her own. Vin and Marie often hosted Mass in their home, as did several other friends. In Annapolis she was active in the St. Mary's, St. John's and Epiphany communities. A longtime eucharistic minister, for many years she brought Holy Communion from St. Mary's to hospitals, with harrowing tales of blizzard adventures! Through St. Mary's, she spent many nights staffing overnight safe spaces for homeless persons at area congregations, and encouraged St. Mary's to open Carroll House as a host site. She and Vince worked with the group that created the Lighthouse shelter. To her final days she cherished her Epiphany faith community and was grateful for their loving support. Marie is survived by eight children: Joan (Paul, deceased), Vince (Maryann), Nancy (John), Frank, David (Julie), Brian (MaryLee), Michael (Ann), and Dan (Paulette), sixteen grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, her younger sister Helen, and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and other family. She was predeceased by a sister, Peggy (Jim) Best, her brother, Jim (Charlie) Donnelly, a brother-in-law, Ed Goehring, and a very close cousin, Joe (Katholeen) Donnelly. A funeral Mass celebrating Marie's life will be held Saturday morning, March 4th at 9:00am at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 N. Bestgate Road, Annapolis, followed by a reception in the Knights of Columbus hall. A Memorial Service and burial will be held in Chicago at a later date. The family requests no flowers. Donations may be made to the Vincent and Marie Cushing Scholarship Fund (University of Notre Dame, Department of Development, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556; write Vincent and Marie Cushing Scholarship Fund on the check.), or to the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be placed at www.hardestyfuneralhome.com